Page 9 of Claimed By Midnight

A flash of honey-blonde curls disappears behind a spice merchant's stall. Always just a step ahead but no further. My boots click against stone as I follow at an almost leisurely pace.

She darts through a gap between buildings, emerging in a smaller courtyard filled with fabric merchants. Their colorful wares create a maze of hanging silks and linens. Rather than crash through, she weaves between the displays like thread through a needle. No wasted movement. No telltale ripples in the fabric to mark her passage.

"Magnificent," I murmur, tracking her by the subtle displacement of air rather than sight.

The courtyard opens into a narrow street lined with food stalls. Steam rises from cooking pots, creating a hazy screen. She uses it perfectly, ducking and weaving through the artificial fog. But I notice how her steps slow fractionally - the prolonged sprint taking its toll.

Time to end this game.

I roll my shoulders, letting power surge through my limbs. Magic ripples across my skin like liquid gold. I use it to clear my path as I lunge forward, my wings carrying me over her as I turn to face her.

Her eyes widen - those striking golden-green irises darkening with the realization that I've been toying with her. She pivots, trying to change direction, but I'm already there. My hand closes around her upper arm, grip firm but not crushing.

"A valiant effort." I draw her closer, savoring the way she still struggles despite knowing it's futile. "But did you really think I'd let you slip away?"

She raises her chin, defiance blazing in her gaze. Even now, trapped in my grasp, she refuses to cower. "I had to try."

A laugh rumbles in my chest - dark and appreciative. "Of course you did. And what an entertaining attempt it was." I lean down, bringing my lips close to her ear. "But playtime is over, little demon. Let's go home."

Her pulse races beneath my fingers as I draw her closer, feeling every tremor of resistance. The late afternoon sun catches in her honey-blonde curls, creating a halo effect that makes her look deceptively innocent. But I've seen the calculating intelligence behind those golden-green eyes, the way she planned each step of her escape.

My wings curl forward instinctively, creating a barrier between us and the crowd. She fits perfectly against me, her softer curves pressing into the hard planes of my chest. Even now she fights, muscles coiled tight beneath my grip, but there's something different in her resistance. A spark of... anticipation?

"Do you enjoy this game as much as I do?" The words ghost across her ear, and I feel her shiver. My free hand slides up her arm, tracing the delicate curve of her shoulder. Such fragile bones beneath such soft skin. I could break her so easily, yet she shows no fear.

Blood pounds through my veins, a primal rhythm that matches her racing heart. The chase awakened something in me - something that's been dormant for years. Her defiance, her cleverness, the way she turns resistance into an art form... it calls to the predator in me.

She twists in my grip, not trying to escape but turning to face me. Those eyes meet mine with a challenge that makes my breath catch. No human has ever dared look at me like that. Like an equal. Like she sees past the perfect features to the monster beneath and isn't cowed.

My fingers tangle in her curls, using the grip to tilt her head back. "Answer me, Athena." Power ripples through my voice, but she merely arches an eyebrow. The gesture is so perfectly defiant that a growl builds in my chest.

I want to devour her. To break down every wall she's built and see what lies beneath. But not yet. This game between us is too delicious to end so quickly.

6

URIEL

Iguide the zarryn down the winding path to my estate, their silver coats catching the fading light. The mansion looms ahead - three stories of white stone and gleaming metal that reflects the dying sun. Magic thrums through every inch of the grounds, each pulse a reminder of my domain.

Athena's breathing quickens as we approach. The carriage stops at the front of the house, and I jump out, circling around to her side. My hands find her waist as I lift her down, the contact sending sparks of awareness through my skin. Even through the fabric of her still torn and worn dress, her warmth seeps into my palms. I let the touch linger longer than necessary, telling myself it's just to ensure she doesn't bolt.

"Welcome home." With the quirk of my hand, I slice through her bindings, but keep one hand firmly on the small of her back. The cruel smile I've perfected over centuries spreads across my face as I begin weaving the first boundary spell that will keep her here without my supervision.

Golden threads of magic flow from my fingertips, weaving an intricate net around us as we walk. "I won't keep you locked up here-" I trace a complex pattern in the air. "But try to escapeagain..." The spell snaps into place with an audible crack. Her shoulders tense.

"What happens if I try?" Her voice stays steady, but I catch the slight tremor in her hands.

I guide her past the covered walkway leading to my workshop. More spells pour from my hands, layering protection and containment that's tied to Athena into every stone and beam. "The magic will stop you. Painfully."

Her golden-green eyes darken as she watches another barrier shimmer into place. "You can't keep me prisoner forever."

"I can do whatever I want." My wings shift, casting us both in shadow. "This is my domain. My magic runs through every inch of this estate."

We reach the main entrance. I press my palm against the door, sending a final surge of power through the building. The walls pulse with golden light as the spells take hold. Athena's face falls as she feels the magic settle - an invisible cage closing around her.

"The boundaries will adjust to my will." I lean close, breathing her in. "You'll go only where I allow, when I allow it."

She lifts her chin, defiance blazing in those remarkable eyes. But I feel her slight shiver when my fingers brush her neck, and it sends a thrill of satisfaction through my blood.

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